Don't throw back the home run balls!
89People are sheep
Ah, baseball... to me, there's nothing like sitting in the ballpark on a beautiful day watching the sweet science of a sport.
Of course, there's always something to screw it up. And it usually involves PEOPLE!
I'm a Philadelphia Phillies fan. Been going to games forever, and have been a partial season ticket holder for 5 years or so, going to about 10 or more games a year. I went to my first ever World Series game last year.
The new Phillies ballpark, Citizen's Bank Park, opened for the 2004 season. A great place to watch a game. My season tickets are in the outfield; home run territory. Unfortunately, along with the new park came a new "tradition" among the fans... to throw back, onto the field, opposing team home run balls. So now, everytime an opposing team homer goes into the stands, the chants of "Throw it Back!, Throw it Back!" start. And I've seen people get into the faces of those who caught balls in an effort to make them toss their souvenier back to the millionaires on the field of play. The ball ends up in the outfield, and a player picks it up and usually throws it to a ballgirl (who then typically gives it to a fan in the infield anyway... duh).
This drives me crazy and here's why;
First of all, you can't have a "tradition" that you didn't invent. The Cubs fans have been doing this at Wrigley forever. It's their thing. Not ours. (And Chicago can have it because I still think they're dopes for throwing those balls back).
Also, I've been going to baseball games for decades.... never got a ball. If one comes my way, I'm keeping it. Couldn't care less if it's a home run, a foul ball, or whatever. Please don't yell at me to throw it back.
Finally, the fans get to keep opposing team foul balls. Hey, I understand that those balls didn't result in a score for the visiting team, but still, why should they get to take home a souvenier, but I can't because I sit in the outfield?
Here are two situations that I witnessed that are both sad and amazing;
I was at the Phillies opening day game in 2005. This game was against the brand new Washington Nationals team... It was the Nationals' INAUGURAL GAME. I just want to make sure I'm being clear... this was the first game ever played by a new ball club. During the game, a Nationals player hit a homer. The chants begun, and the ball was thrown back. In other words, some schmo threw away the FIRST HOMERUN BALL hit by a NEW BASEBALL TEAM! I so wanted to go up to that person and tell them what an idiot they were. That ball had value. And I'm sure that a representative of the stadium would have come up to them and let them know that the Nationals wanted the ball (and would have done something to prove the point). I don't think someone that dumb would ever read this blog, but if by chance you're reading ths.... YOU... ARE... AN... IDIOT!
Even worse was the time I saw a KID end up with a home run ball hit by the "enemy". The poor kid was tormented and eventually threw the ball onto the field. You could see he wanted to keep it. As the sheep were yelling to throw it back, my friends and I were yelling for him to KEEP IT! He actually threw it after a considerable amount of time. I'm sure he would have rather taken that ball home.
Unfortunately, this has now been going on for over 4 seasons, so I guess the "tradition" is here to stay, but still I have a simple solution. At the beginning of each game, it's already announced that you will be tossed if you throw anything onto the field... so, just make sure to let everyone know that baseballs are included in this rule. Throw something onto the field... throw a baseball onto the field and... YOU'RE OUTTA HERE!!! (that was a tribute to the late great Harry Kalis).
Anyway, if I'm ever lucky enough to catch a ball, any ball, at a game, the surrounding fans are going to hate me.
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Be a true fan and show your disapproval for the other team, throw it back. Also, give the other fans around you something to cheer about, they will also cheer for you. But, if a great player hits it or if the game was a postseason game, I would keep it. Otherwise, come early to the game and get a ball during batting practice if you want it so bad. Good hub though!
Quit being a b****. THROW IT BACK!!!
Bring a decoy baseball to the game if you sit in the outfield!
So let me get this straight if your team was at home and a visiting barry bonds hits the record breaker HR ball....throw it back instead of keeping history or becoming rich, its better to spite the away team and throw it back.STUPID
jacobt2, that is one of the dumbest arguments I've ever heard, so I'm supposed to throw a ball back just to make you happy when it would make me so much more happier to keep it?!?! I'm sorry, but I'm gonna worry about how I feel rather than just making you happy. I'm a Twins fan as well, and I'm saddened that we've started doing this too. Let the dumbass Chicago fans throw back their balls! And also I would want to keep the ball not because the other team hit it, but rather that my pitcher threw it and it was my guy who last touched the ball so that is kind of cool in my eyes. By the way, there is a big difference is batting practice balls and game balls, I don't want to catch a ball just so I have a ball, I want a ball used in an MLB Game! Such a stupid tradition!!!
If I caught a ball at an MLB, regardless if it was a foul or a homerun, I would keep it. Not because it will be worth money, which in most cases it wont be, but because it's a nice souvenir. If you dont want the baseball give it to a kid sitting next to you. Throwing the ball back puts you at risk of getting kicked out. It's almost like people think the home run for the opposing team will be subtracted when the ball is thrown back. And for the guy who threw the Nats Opening Day ball back, he for sure is an idiot. Saved the Nats some much needed money though, since they didn't have to bribe the guy for the ball.
First of all, Cubs fans are morons to begin with. And they're the ones that started this "tradition." I'm not sure when it started, but then again, I don't care. I only know I started seeing this a lot more in the last decade or so, to the point where you see it all the time now. And I don't care if I do get harassed or yelled at when I catch a home run ball hit by an opposing player. I'm keeping it. And I'll tell y'all to fuck off when I do, too.
If I were lucky enough to catch a ball at a game I would keep it. I could careless about what others in the crowd thought.
The fans made a little kid throw a homer run ball back? Damn, even at Wrigley we don't even make little kids throw it back
I love the idea of not letting anything be thrown on the field. Besides, if I was lucky enough to snag a ball, I'd want to keep it to show and brag to my friends about. if it was of any significance, I would definitely try to get something valuable for the ball.
I'm with you. Fans look like cheap rip-off artists whenever a homerun is tossed out of a park not named wrigley.
Bleacher Bums unite and chant... "Give it to a Kid!". It will make their day.
Enjoyed the article. Good luck with that in Philly. Both of the ideas of the decoy ball and the "Give it to a kid!" chant are great ideas. It would seem the worst case scenario would involve a beer shower and/or butt kicking. I would be willing to endure both to get that ball to my son.
This is not a true story.
I think this is the smartest thing I've ever heard a Phillies fan say!
Allright. I did catch a home run ball. At Camden Yards. Off Miguel Tejada, April 20, 2006, I believe. I still have the ticket stub of that game magneted to my refridgerator. It was an incredible moment. Maybe I'll put it on my tombstone "This guy here caught a home run ball at a MLB game". Kind of make me stand out in the old graveyard.
So okay. What I did after I caught it was hand it to a six year old girl who was with my wife and I. As soon as I did, the crowd cheered me. And that felt good - for about a minute. Since then I've been kicking myself wishing I had just put the ball in my pocket, went to the souvenir stand and bought the kid another ball.
I'm just about positive I'll never be lucky enough to catch a home run ball again. The odds of catching just one are greater than hitting a hole-in-one or being struck by lightning. Believe me, I looked it up. I even wrote a store about it. It was that kind of once-in-a-lifetime thing. I still don't even know anyone personally, or anyone I know who knows anyone else personally, who has caught a home run ball at a MLB game.
I've read a few tales of second-person accounts of people watching other people catching a home run ball and throwing it back or giving it to the cutest little kid or just keeping it for themselves. My advise? Hell, it's up to you.
If you ever do catch a ball, you will probably be faced with a whole other herd of sheep who will keep bleating at you to "give it to a ki-i-i-i-id!" If you are ever so blessed as to catch a ball at a game, I hope you stick to your guns and keep it.
By order of MLB, the home teamis required to eject anyone throwing anything on to the playing field. They think it is cute but in reality it insures them of listening to the rest of the game on their car radio in the parking lot.
Please don't throw back the ball, go to anusher and give him or her the ball to give back.
I just watched someone at Yankee Stadium throw Eric Hosmer's first Major League home run back on the field.
Hosmer is one of the best prospects in the game. He will be an all star some day and maybe even a Hall of Famer if he lives up to his potential.
And someone threw the ball back why? Because 1) he's an idiot, 2) a bunch of strangers wanted him to. So stupid.
I felt like saying, hey, buddy... would you throw 5 thousand dollars on the field? Guess what? You just did.
And for the LAST TIME... this is Wrigley thing. Stop copying!!!
For once I agree with a cards fan, give it to a kid. Don't throw it back!
i'd keep the ball, so would any true fan who appreciated the game of baseball and not only their team. cubs fans are a bunch of sheep
Keep the ball fk everyone else jumping on the copy cat Bandwagon
The Washington HomeRun was hit by Tramell Sledge of the Washington Nationals. The Ball is now on display in Cooperstown's Hall of Fame. Yes it was first homerun hit by the new Nationals. The value at the time was $15,000.
At Wrigley we carry extra balls in our pocket. We are not throwing the game ball back. Next time u see me catch a hr ball I will throw one back, give one to the closest kid, and walk away with the real one. I can't believe so many people are fooled by this. I learned that as a kid!
I know right come on man,I thought it was common knowledge.
That's what i do with foul balls to avoid giving them to kids.
Sue/Hershey 3 years ago
The fans tormented a little kid into throwing a ball back last night during the game. I felt so bad for whoever it was that threw it back. The whole point of sitting out there and bringing your glove is to catch a homerun ball no matter who hits hit! I'm w/you, if I ever catch a homerun ball it's mine TO KEEP!!